Chapter 162
Chapter 162
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 162
Chapter Title: Storming the Immortal Legion
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If you want to know what's happening in Shizhou, you'll obviously have to get there first.
And right from the start, we ran into trouble.
"There's too damn many."
The path to Shizhou was blocked by an entire army.
It felt like they were growling, Come any closer, and we'll rip you apart—just like guard dogs staking their claim. And these were corpses doing the growling.
"No way those are undead?"
Most of the hunters facing them off couldn't believe their eyes. Properly made undead looked human. The more refined and powerful they became, the harder they were to distinguish from the living.
The Immortal Legion staring us down was the pinnacle of that art. The ultimate form any corpse could achieve.
"Every last one of them is undead."
And we had to push back these perfect, ultimate undead to advance into Shizhou.
I slowly brought the radio to my lips.
"If it were easy, someone else could've handled it. You all know that."
We had to break through. I needed to uncover whatever mysterious thing was holed up in that godforsaken Shizhou.
"You two, stay sharp. We've only been fighting easy prey lately, right?"
Jeong O-hun let out a confused Eh? at my words.
"Don't remember that."
"We've been picking on weaklings. These are the real deal. Get cocky, and you're dead."
With that, I double-checked my gear. Full prep, throw everything we've got at them. I'd already tangled with these monsters back in Jaun Valley.
"Han Sang-ah, you know it too."
She'd seen them up close. She gave a small nod and checked her sword again.
"Just focus on punching through. Nothing else."
The threat ahead was too massive to worry about what came next. Thinking beyond this would be pure arrogance—like facing a starving tiger while fretting over the gas you left on at home.
Handle what's right in front of you.
"Let's go."
I stood, gripping my spear and crown. Lead from the front, dive into the hottest spots, fight flashier than anyone. This was melee combat. And in close quarters, a commander who outshone everyone in bravery wielded the biggest influence.
My role wasn't commander anymore. That was done. What we needed now was a fierce general swinging his weapon to cut down dozens at a time, bathing in enemy blood, roaring like a lion.
"Chaaarge!"
With a shout, I vaulted over our hunters' formation and charged straight at the corpses facing us.
"Kill anything that ain't human! Punch through their flesh and smash their skulls!"
Circulating mana to accelerate my body, I shot forward with the wind tearing apart behind me. Spears thrust out from walls of shields. The crown glowed; the ring poured out blue energy.
Then, collision.
Like bowling pins smashed by a ball, the corpses holding formation flew every which way.
No matter how elite the Immortal Legion, I wasn't the same guy they'd faced in Jaun Valley.
"Immortal Legion, my ass."
They died just fine. My spear whipped out, extending to sweep the area ahead—corpses shattered, clearing my line of sight.
Switching between dagger and spear length, I swung the blade laced with poison and Paradox Flame. The crown's light crumbled undead; the ring's power blanketed them in white frost.
"Well, now."
My spear, smashing foes nonstop, finally met resistance.
"I know your name well. Your skills are renowned..."
Shut up. Can't you see I'm cleaning house? Blocking one swing got you this chatty?
The next swing carried power on another level entirely. It blocked with a shield, but the impact pulped its body into mush.
"Hold the line!"
More corpses snapped into formation, hoisting massive shields high. Sharp spear tips glinted between the upright barriers.
To block my advance, archers behind the shield wall unleashed a swarm of arrows with whistling fury.
At the same time, a magic circle flared under my feet—flames erupted, mana bolts exploded.
"That all you got?"
Sometimes, tanking it is the better play. Like right now.
Through rising flames and slashing winds, I walked forward, body catching the arrow storm.
A spear thrust for my chest. I grabbed it barehanded and yanked hard. The corpse gripping it got ripped from the shield wall like a weed after rain.
Smashed its skull, then hurled the remains back at the shield line.
The flying corpse slammed the wall; it shuddered, gaps opening. No way I'd miss that.
I charged the breach and vaulted the shields.
"Surround it!"
Like a trained army, the corpses repositioned in seconds, encircling me. The outer defense became my prison.
At the same time, a crushing pressure bore down—like my body was being squeezed. Mana radiating from the surrounding foes.
Joint Attack Formation. That Yoon whatever from Taebaek had tried something like it on me before.
This one was far more refined. Most would crumple under the weight, helpless against spears, arrows, and spells sending them to hell.
The ground trembled, then thudded sinking. The pressure wasn't just on me.
Not a big deal. Five focal points in the formation; energy flows between them.
"First target."
Hit the wrong one at the wrong time, and it'd amp the pressure.
My spear extended, smashing one cluster of troops. A boom echoed, wind whistled sharply, and the suppressive force weakened instantly.
One by one, precise strikes at exact timings—the pressure vanished completely.
"What're you gaping at?"
Weird seeing expressions on corpse faces.
— Report from 1st Team. Strong individual sighted. Location...
I checked the report and bolted that way. There stood a brute in heavy armor, swinging a massive double-headed axe like a windmill.
"I am Chang Seok-guk! Any who dare take my strike, show your face! Urhahaha!"
Scorching heat blasted along the axe's arc.
"Here we go again!"
Gripping the huge axe two-handed, it spun gleefully before slamming it toward the hunters.
A thud—but the axe never hit ground. Its haft was caught in my grip, frozen midair.
"Stop bullying the kids. Play with me."
Won't last long, though.
"Ah, it's you!"
It recognized me; its face lit up.
"Meeting me ain't cause for joy."
"Heard you're pretty tough. Come on, let's trade blows!"
Damn it. I stepped back, reset my stance, steadied my breath, and lowered into position.
"Trade blows?"
As I moved, its eyes flicked elsewhere. Lost sight of me already? Some general.
In the blink of an eye, dozens of spear strikes hammered it.
"This... incredible...!"
It swung the double-axe wide to counter.
While the axe followed its predictable path, my spear peppered it relentlessly, leaving blue trails in the air.
Each trail targeted where it'd move next. Dodge here, get hit there; block one spot, expose another.
Three seconds later, the spear storm passed. The corpse stood riddled with hundreds of holes, clutching the splintered axe haft.
"Trade blows, huh? You just ate mine. What am I supposed to do?"
The final slash took its head. I feigned a sad look.
"Uwaaaaaah!"
Corpses didn't know morale. But we did. Watching a foe they'd struggled against shatter in an instant fired up our side even more.
Soon, three more leaped before me.
"We are the Three Mountain Peaks."
I crushed the heads of a few charging ones while sizing them up. Stronger than the axe idiot.
"Why do you clowns pop up one by one? This ain't a tasting menu."
"Saw you handle Chang Seok-guk well. But don't think we're pushovers like him."
One wielded twin swords; another spun three or four chakrams on each index finger. The last gripped a chained sickle, aka manriki kusarigama.
As I geared to engage, more emerged.
"Cheon Ryeo-da."
"Na Han-dal."
"U Hwang-seon."
"Pal Cha-don."
Watching them introduce themselves one by one pissed me off.
"What are you, new transfer students? Why flop down for roll call?"
Let 'em finish, and the sun might set.
Over twenty now faced me. Each a cut above.
This many gunning just for me? Even I'd struggle. But backing down now? Nah.
"Shut up and rush me already."
"If that's your wish, we'll claim your corpse here."
With that, the twenty charged without hesitation.
Each a veteran carving their path with unique styles.
Spears flowed smooth, spawning endless variations. Flashes of ultra-fast slashes flickered by.
Block, clash, dodge, counter. Even weathering twenty in sequence, my eyes flicked to the battlefield now and then.
I still had that much slack.
"3rd Team, fall back a bit and link with 4th. 5th Team, heavy casualties—pull injured to rear for treatment, then return."
Mid-command, I snatched a flying chain. Paradox Flame raced along it, burning hot.
Durability torched, the kusarigama crumbled to ash. Kept directing while fighting—no wounds on me, just piling up on them.
"So this is that utterly unfair ability."
"Unfair," huh? Another ten minutes, and five corpses down, eight critically maimed.
The rest weren't pretty either.
"Seems you're beyond what we can handle."
A whispery mutter came from behind me.